Growing Bonsai

Bonsai are miniature trees grown in pots. The aim of bonsai culture is
to develop a tiny tree that has all the elements of a large tree
growing in a natural setting. This look is achieved, principally, by
branch and root pruning and shaping, but other factors are also
important. The texture of the trunk, its look of age, the moss and the
underplantings in the container--all contribute to the illusion of a
miniature tree as it is seen in nature.

A presentable bonsai can be created in a few seasons. Cultivating
these miniature potted trees is both an intriguing hobby, and a means
of adapting a wide range of plants to specialized and decorative
uses. Bonsai require daily watering during their growing season, and,
because the plants are rooted in shallow pots, careful pruning.

Bonsai are kept outdoors most of the year, but--from time to
time--these miniaturized versions of nature are brought indoors for
display. Only certain tropical trees, shrubs, and vines can be
continually kept indoors full time as bonsai.

Bonsai, as an art form, stems from ancient oriental culture. It
originated in China and was developed by the Japanese. In the 13th
century, the Japanese collected and potted wild trees that had been
dwarfed by nature. These naturally formed miniatures were the first
bonsai.

When demand for the small trees outstripped the supply, Japanese
gardeners began to train bonsai from native trees. They shaped the
trees to give them the illusion of age and naturalness. Over the
years, the Japanese devised standards of shape and form which
gradually began the classic bonsai styles.

American bonsai are much freer in concept and style than Japanese
bonsai. American bonsai growers have recognized that the horticultural
and aesthetic rules are important, but are specifically aimed at
Japanese culture. Because of this, Americans have taken oriental
styles and applied them to plants never grown by the
Japanese. Therefore, the rigid procedures and names used by the
Japanese are not used in this bulletin.